Folding table



w. s. GRAHAM'.

' FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILEDNOV. L5. |920.-

1,416,815 Patented May 23, v1922. l

INVENTOP A fron/sys FLDING TABLE.

raisers.

Specification of Letters atent.

litatentecdl hilary 23%, i592?.

Application filed November' 15, 19E Serial No. l24,055.

To all ywho/ney t may concern.'

Beit known that I, lVaLTnn S. GRAFFAM, a citizen ot the United States, residing,` at Shrewsbury, in the county of lrVorcester and tdt-ate ot' lllassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the folhiv-ingl is a specification.

"his invention relates to a'table ot the type which can be folded up into sniall compass for convenience in transportation.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a table having a top made up ot a plurality ot sections or panels so related to each other that they can be rolled up to torni a small hollow rectan ulail case; to connect with these plates the supporting legs in such a way that they can be folded up in a very sinall compass together with all the braces and located inside said rectangular case; to provide tnese parts in sueh torni that wl en collapsed and folded up the whole structure will be of such dimensions as to he stored easily in an automobile or the like or a trunlr and carried about from place to place; to provide a construction which, in spite of the above mentioned qualities, can be unfolded and set 'up rapidly in the torni of a table by anyperson without experience or mechanical ability and without the use of tools or special detachable parts; to provide a (-,onstruction in which the table can be set at varying heights troni the ground and also can be set at dillerent angles so that if placed on sloping ground the table top can be brought to a horizontal position, thus renderingl the table particularly suitable for use in lunching, camping out and the like; and to provi-de a device otl this character which can be inade of comparatively light niaterial, as wood or sheet metal, that will be strong and rigid when set up. The table is compact, universal, not seriously affected by heat or moisture, easily cleaned, sanitary, will hold all the 'food that would usually be piled on it, will stand rigidly on uneven or sloping' vground and can be nrade practically indestructible when iorined entirely ot' nietal. The invention involves various t'eatures or construction including' the pro essively increasing width ot the panels oit which the table top is inade, to perniit ot' rolling up into a rectangular box torni, a particular way of pivotally connecting' the cross bars 'to the panels of the table top, ineans tor holding the ends oi the cross bars, rneans tor reentorcing the sheet inet-al edges of the table top, a special torni of loc-king device on the end oli' the braces provided with a friction washer, anovel construction of the by which a very siinple and inexpensive jfoot is provided and other `teatures as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating this invention .in the l'orrn or a complete talle shown set up in its normal position, part ot it being broken away and appearing in section to show interior construction;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing in full lines an arrangement of the saine elements by which the table can he set up with the top nearer the ground and showing in dotted lines how the saine elenients can be adjusted to perinit oit settingl it up on slopingl ground in such a way as to keep the top horizontal;

Fig. 3 is a iiierspeotive view of the entire table Jfolded up in small compass;

lli il is a perspective view showing a torni ot spring clip ttor holding the end oit the cross bar;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing; a reentorceinent oi the edge ot' the table top;

fltlig. (5 is a perspective view of a leg and brace;

'7 is a plan oit one ot' said braces;

. 8 is an edge view;

9 is an end view thereof; l0 is an edge view o't one olf the cross ll an end view ot the saine;

l2 is an elevation oi the blank o Fir'. 'i3 is a bottoni plan view oi" one` oi the legs in its complete torni.

lin tne iorin oi. the invention shown in the drawings. l have illuf'ztrated it as applied to a table which is provirfled with a top termed o't sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron. This top is shown as inadc up ol' a serios ot plates or panels arianir ,d in series. Every alternate plate constitutes a panel il.. ot nearly the saine width, but each one slightly wider than 'the alternate one to the lett. The intermediate plates are oit varying widths gradually iiicreasing Lrein the narrowest one next to the edge panel to the widest one Si? next to the other o je panel. Each ot these plates is provided with integral tongues bent'over he edge te Y"'orni lll) hinge construction.` These hinges are mate by turning integral portions of each plate or panel downward and inwardly to form a cylinder a.. On each edge of each plalple a plurality of these cylinders are provider or equal length and equally spaced apart. As each plate or panel is provided with these hinge sections on each edge, those on each one registering in the spaces of the adjacent one, it will be obvious that a single hinge pin can be inserted through from one end to the other of each joint thus formed when the parts are assembled. This constitutes a series of parallel hinges pivoting each panel to the next one on both sides.

The two end panels are bent down at their outer edges to form sides a? and these are bent up inwardly on the inside to strengthen these walls. For the purpose of further reenforcement I provide a steel bar 10 on 'the inner side of each of the vertical walls a2 and in contact with the upwardly turned inner edge. This bar 10 projects beyond the inner wall at both ends. lts end is then turned inwardly over the end of the upturned inner wall a? at both ends. This securely clamps the re-inforcing bar 1() in position with its outer and inner surfaces intimately engaging the inner surfaces of the two parts of the wall a?. In this way the longitudinal ledges of the table top are materially strengthened and made comparatively rigid though light.

Permanently connected with the end panel A on one side are two cross bars 11, swinging on vertical pivots 13. Consequently they swing in a plane parallel to the table top when expanded. l have shown a thick connecting piece 12 securely riveted to the end of one cross bar and connected with the table top by a pivot 13 in the form of a rivet. The object of this is to be able to swing these cross bars inwardly under the first panel without danger of breaking and 011e of them in contact substantially with the inner wall of the vertical edge a?. For this purpose one pivot 13 is much nearer the wall ft2 than the other one.

Vhen about to be used they are swung outwardly in the opposite direction and their free offset ends 14: are forced under the slanting end of a spring clip 15 riveted to the opposite end panel A of the table. This spring clip has a recess S) formed b v bending. into which this end of the cross bar is iuserted and which holds it against twisting or dislodgment. This construction is substantially duplicated at the two ends of the table.

It is to be noted that each of these cross bars, being in the form of an angle iron, has a horizontal top under the top of the table for strengthening it and receiving the weight of the sheet metal panels. The bottoms of the hinges a which project below the panels normally rest on these two horizontal surfaces.

The outer vertical wall of each cross bar is provided with perforations 16. Each of these perforations is shown as having a circular central opening and two opposite horizontal slots extending from it. lf the table is to be used only for the purpose indicated in Fig. 17 in which it is about the height of any ordinary table, only one pair of these perforations will be used in each cross bar, but for the purpose of adjustment, additional perforations are shown. These perforations are to receive turn buttons 17 located on braces 18. Each of these turn buttons comprises a shank passing through a perforation in the brace and headed over at 19 on the other side. A spring washer 20 is placed under the headof the button to hold it frictionally in any position in which it is placed. The braces 1S are each pivoted on one of the flanges of a leg 21. Each of these legs is in the form of an angle iron and they are all pivoted at the top by means of hori- Zontal pivots 22 to the vertical walls of the cross bars 11. lt will be seen therefore that these legs all swing on what are parallel axes considering the table as in the position shown in Fig. 1. lt will be seen also that several braces 18 are pivoted on what can be considered the inner surfaces of one wall of each leg so that when folded they fold inside these legs and take up practically no room. l

These legs are arranged in two pairs ol viously, the pair connected with the same cross bar swinging toward each other. The angle irons of which 'these three members consist have a certain relationship. One leg is mounted so that it folds within the angle iron forming the cross bar to which it is pivoted and the other folds on its outer surface. Therefore, when these three members are folded together they have the thickness vertically of one of them and the thickness transversely of two of them. This consti tutes an economy in the spacing of these elements when folded.

Each leg alsoI is provided with an improved forni of foot for the purpose of simplifying and cheapening the construction and yet having full strength. Tn cutting out these legs originally they are cut at the bottoni to form two opposite triangular projections 23 as shown in Fig. 12. ln completing these legs these two angular ends are bent i1\ \.rardl v at right angles along horizontal lines. Then the legs are bentlongitudinally andl centrally at right angles. That brings these angular edges into contact with each other shown in Fig. 13. This gives a flat bottom or foot to the leg h: ving a continuous lower surface. i

l also provide two pairs of side braces or struts `These are shown as pivoted Wil) Missie on horizontal axes to the outer surfaces of the legs 2l at a slight elevation above the bottom thereof. These legs are provided with pertorations like the pertorations 156 located at the proper height to receive turn buttons 17 like those described above on the end oi the opposite legs. lnly one set of these pertorations is required. These braces as stated are located on the outside and cross each other to connect the legs in pairs. vl-Then folded up they lie parallel with thel outer flange ot the leg` and merely add their thickness` to the room occupied thereby. i

titarting` with table all folded up as shown in Fig. il it is set up in the 'following inanner: First it is unrolled so that theI several panels lie flat on the ground bottom side up. The operator stands on the side oi the table top to which the cross bars are pivoted so that they are close at hand. Then the left hand end of the cross bar 1l. which is pivoted at his right, together with the connected group of legs and braces, is litted about two inches and is held up in that position. Then the right hand end of the log' ot' this group is lifted and dropped back toward the operator over the flange a2.

Now the other cross bar l1 with its attached braces and legsyis swung inwardly on its pivot 13 about halt way leaving it resting on the inner side of the table top diagonally. Then the first group oit parts is'swung all the way around to a `position at right angles with that which it occupies when folded, and its end is snapped back ot the spring clip l5. That cross bar therelore is fixed in position and the two legs carried hy it are in position for unfolding. Now the other cross har is similarly snapped into position.

his leaves both cross bars in their nal place ready for the legs to be swung out. ln doingthis` the long brace .25 on either side is swung inward while the leg is being raised on its pivot 22. The short brace is dropped down on the inside ot the leg and is locked in place by inserting the button li" into the proper slot in the cross bar ll. `The button is then turned crosswise in the slot to hold it there. All four legs are erected in the same way so that they stand vertically. The only thing` remaining to do now is to lock the long hraces in place and stand theI table right side up.

lt a low table is desired so that the campers can sit around it on the ground, the operation is substantially the same in unfolding except that the legs are crossed indicated in Fig, 2 and the braces i8 arealso crossed. l have shown two sets of perilforations 16, the inner set being used i'l the table is desired to he located at an intermediate height not fully shown in the drawings.

lf the table is to he used on a side hill7 the only difference is that one pair of braces 18 is inserted in the outer pair ot perforations 1G while the other pair are inserted in the inner pair of periorations. rEhe braces 25 are hxed in the same way in all cases.

l'n folding the table tion is obviously necessary. lt is first turned bottom side up. rEhe braces 25 and 18 are disconnected at their tree ends and swung parallel with their respective legs. occ .npying very little room as indicated. 'llhe legiv are swung down against the cross bars and 'the cross barswith their connected legs and braces are swung inwardly on their res-pei tive pivots 13 in an order opposite to that described above. This brings the two groups of pivoted members inside of the lirst panel A, one oi' the groups resting up against the inner side ot the flange and the other coming close to it but all within the area of this panel. This panel then is rolled over so that the next panel rl which is narrower, will assume a vertical position.

ne more turn and the neXt panel A which is nearly the same width the first one is brought into parallel position therewith underneath it but spaced therefrom. This operation is continued until all the panels are folded over. This leaves a box-like casing as indicated in Fig. 3. rTwo of the legs only appear in that gnre because the others are hidden by the right hand wall as they do not extend as tar in the lett hand di.rec. tion.

It is to be noted that each panel is made Wide enough to overlap the one inside it and project far enough loeyond its edges to permit of this 'folding operation. For this purpose they are made ot the progressively increasing width from one edge ot the table to the other. The only thing that is necessary in order to hold the construction together is to confine the outer panel by placing a strap around the whole structure ilE desired. This folded structure is ot the saine length as the table top and oi" a width equal to that of the widest panel. lts thickness is the same as the width ot the widest panel' o' the narrow series of panels and that is only a little greater than twice the width or thickness of one ot the legs. It will be seen, therefore, that the whole structure can be folded into an extremely small compass and that it is convenient to carry and easily set up :is well as being so constructed as to be capable ol satisfying the varying conditions required in using it tor lunches. etc. by the wayside.

.ilthough l have illustrated and describe-d only a single embodiment of the invention. l. am aware olE the fact that many inodiir cations can he made therein hy any person the opposite opera- CIO skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope ot the invention as expressed in the claims. j

Therefore, l do not wish to be limited to all or' the details oit construction herein shown and described but what l do claim 1. A folding table having a top comprising two series oit parallel hinged panels, one series progressively increasing in width all the 'way from one side to the other, the panel of that series near one edge 'being the narrowest and the one near the other edge being the widest of that series.

2. A iolding table top consisting of two series of panels arranged alteri'iately and hinged together along their sides and those of each series progressively increasing in width from one side to the other to permit some to be folded within the areas occupied by others, but those of the other series all being ot nearly the same width.

A folding table top consisting oli sheet metal panels, each having integral cylindrical projections by which they are hinged together, certain of said panels being oi suiiicient width to receive between their cylindrical projections the total width or' the fourth panel therefrom on one side.

el. in a device as described, in combination, a table top consisting ot a series of panels hinifedly connected ltogether, the side panel being iformed with vertical tianges thereupon doubled inwardly at the bottom,a pair oi? cross bars having their opposite ends i'fri'ctionally received by said side panel to retain the several panels in still relationship, and a spring clip carried by one ot said panels adapted to bind against said cross bars to :further hold them against said panels.

5. ln a device as described, in combination, a table top consisting ot a plurality of panels, cross-bars contacting said panels, means ior loosely connecting said panels together edgewise, the side panel being formed with double edge flanges, a sti'tlening bar within each oit said double iianges bent over at its ends to hold it. in position, and spring clips adapted to removably ycontact said cross bars with said panel,

6. 1n a device `as described-in combination, a table top, crossbars piroted to said table top, a pair of parallel vertical legs pivotally connected to each ot said cross bars at opposite sides of said table top, and brace arms pivoted to said legs on axes transverse to the lirst named pivotal connections tor holding said legs apart.

7. ln va device as described, in combination, a table top, cross bars .made of angle iron mounted therebelow transversely thereof, a series of legs also ot angle iron, one side oi each cross bar having holes there through, brace arms pivotally carried by said legs and formed with upper terminalsadapted to project into said holes, said terminals being pivoted to admit the insertion or said terminals into said holes, and means ior spreading said leg portions apart in cbllapsible relation.

S. In a device as described, in combination, a table top, angle iron cross bars having sides contacting flat against said table top and sides perpendicular thereto, angle iron legs, brace arms carried `by one side or' each leg inside the angle iron and engaging the j ierpendicular sides of said cross bars, and another set oi' brace bars pivotally carried by said legs on their outer sides and engaging these same sides of other legs to space said legs apart.

9. ln a device as described, in combination, a table top, cross bars pivotally carried by said-table top, a series or' legs pivoted to the cross bars, means i'or locking said table top upon the upper. ends of said legs, a series ot brace arms carried by said legs oldably, and means for retaining said brace arms against said leg portions.`

10. In adevice as described, in combination, a table top, a series of legs arranged therebeneath, said legs being angle irons throughout their lengths, brace arms carried by said legs and engaging said table top, andanother set oi brace arms carried by and engaging the lower portions ot said. legs to hold them apart.

l1. In a device as described, in tion, a table top, a series of legs arranged therebeneath, a set of brace arms pivotally connected to said legs at their lower ends, said brace arms being adapted to diagonally project alongside said legs and find lodgenent in other legs, and means for movably locking said table top upon 'the upper ends of said legs. Y

12. 1n a Jfolding table, the combination with a top comprising a plurality ot' pivotally connected panels of varying width, a pair of cross bars permanently pivoted to one side edge panel, legs permanently pivoted to each cross bar, and braces pivoted to the legs, the two lgroups of cross bars, legs, and braces being i'oldable into a rectangular space formed between the narrowest tour panels near one edge of the top when each isswung into a position perpendicular to the next one.

13. 1n a `folding table, the combination with a `top comprising a plurality o't Divotally connected panels of varying wie th, a pair ot cross bars permanently pivoted to one side edge panel, legs permanently pivoted to each cross bar, and braces j'iivoted to the legs, the two groups of cross bars, legs, and braces being oldablc into a rectangular torni by swinging them back against the panel to which the two cross bars are pivoted and rolling the top over and over in the same direction.

combina- Leidens lll. In a folding table, the combination of a top7 with legs permanentlj,7 pivoted thereto and adapted to support the top at a maximum height when held perpendicular to the top, mea-ns for holding them in such perpendicular position comprising braces pivoted 'to the legs, and means for holding said legs in crossed inclined relationship to support the top at e lower elevation comprising provisions below the top for holding the free ends of the braces at a dil'erent point.

l5. In a folding table, the combination of a top, with legs permanently pivoted thereto and adapted to support the top at a maximum height when held perpendicular to the top, means for holding said legs in crossed inclined relationship to support the top at a lower elevation, and means to hold one pair oic them at a different angle from the other pair to support the top horizontally when the bottoms of the legs rest on an inclined surface.

16. ln a. folding table, the combination of a top, with legs permanentl)7 pivoted thereto and adapted to support the top at a` maX- imum height when held perpendicular to the top, and means for holding said legs in crossed inclined relationship to support the top at a lowei` elevation, and at different angles, to provide a pluialitbT of heights for the table top.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto alixed my signature.

WALTER S. GRAFFAM. 

